--From a teacher perspective, what did you find most interesting about CI?
The number of levels and scaffolding throughout the game.
Note-taking throughout the game can teach students about the importance of note-taking.
Technology terminology (i.e., IslandPedia)
IslandPedia is a useful tool for students, above and beyond exploring online for information.
Options to use/explore applications.
The in-game ability to discover information independently encourages risk-taking and exploration.
Game features allow students to discover that they need tools (i.e., such that they need discover that they should utilize the map for reference while playing the game).
Features of the game motivate students to have discussion with one another about useful game features/strategies.
The ability for children to choose what they do/don't do in the game.
Language throughout the game is very kid-friendly.
--What suggestions do you have for improving CI?
Make map available throughout game.
Make compass available for purchase so that students may use it.
Incorporate narration for struggling readers.
Ability to copy and paste instructions into the notepad.
Increase ability to move up/down hills and move more quickly throughout the game.
Increase motivation for sand dollars by incorporating enticing things for purchase (i.e., jet pack).
--What are your reactions to the Create a Map Activity?
The map activity directly ties the information that children will learn about in their landform kit.
Allows for children of all levels to increase performance.
Activity is slightly cumbersome in terms of the amount of directions and may be overwhelming for students.
Chunking some of the steps may help students to pace themselves and become less overwhelmed by the map activity.
Expand length of activity over the course of several days.
Some students do not like to draw. Perhaps incorporate a digital map activity for those who do not like to draw.
Perhaps make the larger grid a group project and make the smaller map key a more individualized, independent process. May take into account students who do not like to draw and will allow students increased flexibility to make their keys more/less detailed according to their own preferences and ability levels.
Collaboration with art teacher at schools to aid students who are not particularly artistic, if an individual map activity is ultimately used as the culminating project.
Schools may wish to choose to do either individual/group projects.
Difficult to draw landforms and map objects in 3-D manner.
Overall, map activity would be an engaging and useful activity for the kids.
--What suggestions do you have for improving CI?
--What are your reactions to the Create a Map Activity?